Ready to throw skimmer through the window

[rachelcb80]

I'm so sick of my Coralife Super Skimmer, I'm ready to yank it out of my sump and throw it in front of the first 18 wheeler that drives by. (It was part of the package start up deal I got from the LFS when I first got my tank. I had done my homework about keeping a tank but didn't know much about the different brands, makes and models of skimmers. I still don't know that much but I know they make way better ones then what I've got!)

Rather than keep fighting a losing battle with the Super Skimmer I think I'm ready to just go ahead and upgrade. I've read a ton of skimmer threads here, looked around online at different stores but I'm no closer to the answer of which skimmer to get now than I was when I first started researching. I hate to post yet another "which skimmer should I buy" thread but I really do need some advice from those who have had a little more experience with different skimmers than I have. Right now I have a moderately stocked 125 gallon. I'd really like to upgrade sometime in the near future to something in the 210 range (again will be moderately stocked) so I'm thinking about my skimmer purchase with that in mind. The only thing that might cause an issue now with getting a skimmer to handle that future tank is my sump space. My sump is as wide as it can be in a 125 gallon stand (13 1/2") but it may not be enough room for much more skimmer than what I've already got. I'm hoping so though.

The next issue is budget. I can't afford a $1,000 skimmer, period. I know everyone loves to recommend a Bubble King or Euro Reef but I just can't afford those high end types. I'm looking in the $500-600 range. Certainly that ought to buy me more skimmer than what I've got right now, shouldn't it?

I want a skimmer that works well right out of the box, no mods. I'm just not confident enough to start modding my equipment yet. It doesn't have to be totally plug and play, I don't mind having to tinker with it, I just don't want to start taking it apart and doing irrevesible things to it.

I may be wanting way more than I can get for what I want to spend but isn't that the story of everyone's life? Thanks in advance to anyone who can narrow down the skimmer field for me!

 

[kfennell]

MSX 200 or 250 would be good for you and both work well right out of the box after break in period. Bonus points is that they both more then enough skimmer for you tank, AND they re way below your budget.

 

[GSMguy]

Open the window first.

I second the msx 200

 

[rachelcb80]

The MSX 200 is one I've seriously looked at. The 250 is to big for my sump space. If I went with the 200, do you think it would be enough skimmer for a moderately stocked 210 gallon tank? Their website says it's suited up to 230 gallons with a medium bioload. Maybe I'm wanting to have my cake and eat it too with trying to find a small enough skimmer for my sump right now but one I could also use for a future upgraded tank.

 

[Hop]

What is your budget? Although I love the MSX line I'm worried about the amount of flowthrough on a 210...

Would the octopus pro 250 fit your sump? The foot print is 8.5"x14" or there abouts and should have about the same processing rate as the MSX250.

I'm running a 190 (250-280) system volume and the 250 is probably just about right... Although I would always go bigger:lol:

 

[savethereef]

Warner Marine makes good skimmers.

 

[GSMguy]

Oh I missed the upgrade plans, an MSX 250 would be better, or I would think about something like the reeflo skimmers.

 

[davenia7]

Please video record the skimmer destruction and post the Youtube link here. Thanks.

 

[RiOnRoxXx]

Look into Octo's. I love them and built pretty well

 

[Jefe12234]

I would look into a Hurricone. I bought a CAT-2 recently and it's in a whole other class compared to my old MSX 200. The pump is what I like most. It pulls a ton of air, starts up without hesitation, and is virtually silent. The CAT-1 should fit in your sump and the CAT-2 might as well. You just have to turn them so the pump sits diagonally. Mine sits in a sump that is 13 and 7/8" wide (inside dimensions) with just a bit of room to spare.

 

[rachelcb80]

Hop, the Octopus Pro 250 could probably squeeze into my sump but aquacave.com says it's only rated for tanks up to 180 gallons. The Pro 300 is way to big for my sump. It seems like it might be an impossible thing, to find a skimmer big enough to handle a future tank, but small enough to fit in my current sump. I sure hate to fork out the dollars for something that won't work with a bigger tank, but I can't keep going with this current piece of junk I have.

Rob, I'm running into the same problem with Warner Marine regarding sump space. The AS-200 looks to be the model I'd want but the footprint is bigger than what I have space for.

Jefe12234, I maybe could squeeze the Cat-2 in my sump diagonally. What is the length on the area of your sump that your skimmer sits in? Do you know where I can look up what the ratings are for the Cat-2? I Googled it and found a couple websites that list it for sale but neither says what size tank it's rated for.

 

[Jefe12234]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14482371#post14482371 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rachelcb80
Jefe12234, I maybe could squeeze the Cat-2 in my sump diagonally. What is the length on the area of your sump that your skimmer sits in? Do you know where I can look up what the ratings are for the Cat-2? I Googled it and found a couple websites that list it for sale but neither says what size tank it's rated for.

My skimmer takes up around 18" in length when positioned diagonally, but I can't tell exactly when it's in water. Also, the Hurricone is the updated version of the Octopus Pro. Same pump, but improved volute, pinwheel, and body. And Reef Specialty is the only authorized reseller of Hurricones, so any other sites selling it would seem a bit fishy.

Here's a post from the Reef Specialty sponsor forum regarding tank ratings:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=14214409#post14214409

 

[rachelcb80]

Geez, apparently I need to consider a bigger sump as well! (I won't be able to get away with 18" in length) The space I'm trying to work with is just 11.5" (l) x 13.5 (w) and it's becoming obvious that is abnormally small. My sump is (again) part of the package I purchased from the LFS and it's one of those MegaFlow sumps (Model 4). Am I missing some way of rigging a bigger skimmer in there?

Saltysupply.com is the other site that came up with the Hurricones when I Googled it.

Thanks for the link, that info helped! I'd really like to seriously consider the Cat-2, though it's a little higher than my price range, but I guess I need to figure out what I'm going to do for a sump first.

 

[Jefe12234]

Ah, I thought the width was the only concern and you had plenty of length. I'd consider upgrading your sump or looking at an external skimmer. I cut a baffle out of my sump to fit my new skimmer in because none of the skimmers I was looking at would fit. It's a lot easier to pick a skimmer when you have the space for it. Don't forget to consider height and space for removing the collection cup.

 

[narwal]

Skimmer Issues

Skimmer Issues

I have read many such rants about skimmers as posted by the thread starter. Yes, it is very frustrating but I think we need take a deep breath and look back. Unless I am missing something, here is my take, and, of course, please let me know if I'm mistaken.

1-Skimming is really not rocket science nor some esoteric technology. The oceans skim when waves crash on the beach. The skimmate (or foam), can often be seen.

2-I don't understand how people can complain about the output of their skimmers. If you get nothing or buckets of wet skimmate the skimmer probably isn't adjusted properly. As for output, I think it's impossible to quantify how much "should be" produced, unless you had identical quantities and qualities or water and did a controlled experiment to see which unit extracted how much.

3-Isn't it possible that the same skimmer can produce tons of junk in one tank, and the same skimmer set up the same way produce far more or far less in another tank?

I got a Red Sea Prism hang on with a bunch of used stuff I bought. After a while I was ready to do the "18 Wheeler Modification" too. But I persisted and found a thread about fine tuning it using an air valve on the priming hose and tried that. After much trial and error it is now working fine. The hardest thing is to resist the temptation to mess with it. At first it produced lots of skimmate, then not so much, but I held back. What I noticed was that over any time period it sometimes produces a lot, and sometimes not as much. So what? I guess it all depends on how much gunk there is in the water.
Make sense?

 

[ReefinSpleefin]

I may be out of line here, but, have you thought about a skimmer that goes out side of the sump?...I think they're called recirculating skimmers? I could be wrong. By the way... my first post ever.

 

[rachelcb80]

Jefe12234, the only baffle cutting I could do on this sump is the one short baffle that holds in the bubble trap sponge. But there isn't another short baffle on the other side (between the long divider that comes from the top). That's probably as clear as mud. What I'm saying is there's only two pieces of acrylic between the skimmer area and the return area. From what I've seen of other people's sumps, it looks like there really should be three. I could cut out both acrylic pieces and make the return area a lot smaller. I know you've got to use some special glue for acrylic though, right? I wonder if that compromise the structural integrity at all.

narwal, your post does make sense and I understand what you're saying. I've been able to tinker with and fix the problems of this skimmer thus far but now it's to the point of not producing any air bubbles. I took the pump out, cleaned it all up, made sure the airline wasn't obstructed at all but it only wants to momentarily work, then go back to flat water. I suppose just like cars, this cheap, not so fancy, hunk of junk could be repaired and made to go from point A to point B the same as a new Corvette but I've decided I'd like to get to point B with less headache and in more style.

As a total side note, does anyone know why my skimmer is doing that? (Only momentarily producing bubbles, then not taking in any air and circulating only plain water)

 

[rachelcb80]

ReefinSpleefin, Welcome to Reefcentral! You registered over a year ago and are just now posting for the first time? What kept you so quiet for that long? I'm hesitant about using an external skimmer because of overflow issues. I go out of town now and then with my husband when work takes him away and we're normally gone 3-4 days at a time. I would really hate to have my skimmer steadily overflowing outside my sump for three days straight.

 

[BS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14481181#post14481181 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davenia7
Please video record the skimmer destruction and post the Youtube link here. Thanks.

+1

 

[BS]

I'm hesitant about using an external skimmer because of overflow issues. I go out of town now and then with my husband when work takes him away and we're normally gone 3-4 days at a time. I would really hate to have my skimmer steadily overflowing outside my sump for three days straight. [/B]

Is this the problem you have with the Coralife? I have two and that is what happens to them some times..... I had them pulling out some nice dark skimate too. I added buckets around the collection cups with a drain back into the tank.... just in case.... well just in case happened too much so they are now sitting idle